The Oracle Temple
While taking a leisurely morning bicycle ride through Siwa’s verdant date palm groves, you have to stop at the Temple of the Oracle this is one of two temples in Siwa dedicated to the ancient god Amun (the sun god and creator of all life in Pharaonic history). It dates back to the 26th Dynasty, and its most famous petitioner was Alexander the Great. Alexander visited Siwa in the spring of 331BC, seeking confirmation from the Oracle that he was the son of Zeus (whom the Greeks identified with as Amun) and therefore the legitimate ruler of Egypt.
Mountain of the Dead
Gabal Al Mawta (Mountain of the Dead) is one of the most profoundly interesting sites that you can ever explore in your life. It is honeycombed with rock tombs, most dating back to the 26th dynasty, the Ptolemaic and till the end of Roman times, however all bear resemblance to ancient Egyptian burial practices.
Only 1km from the centre of town, the tombs were used by the Siwans as shelters when WWII was raging in Siwa.
Of significance are the Tomb of Niperpathot, Tomb of the Crocodile, Unfinished Tomb of Mesu-Isis and Tomb of Si-Amun for their magnificent and well-preserved wall paintings.
The mountain looks great from a distance, but it is a lot more impressive up close.
Shali Village
In 1200 A.D., the fortified city of Shali was built to protect local inhabitants from foreign invaders; it was positioned among thick palm groves, beautiful gardens, and orchards, in addition to numerous fresh water springs and salt lakes. Shali was constructed of mud brick and salt which melted away three days of heavy rain in 1926; ruins of this ancient city still remain in Siwa.
Shali supposedly rose 60 meters above the ground level of the oasis, the ruins of which offer a fabulous sight. Though none of 5 story houses still stand, you will find that some of the houses are still inhabited, although this only applies to the ones at the foot of Shali.
Traditional Siwa House Museum
This museum is located at the town center, and it displays the local community’s traditional costumes and jewelry. Siwa is well known for its unique artifacts from jewelry, hand-made rugs, baskets, and traditional robes and head dresses that are adorned with antique coins and weaving that are unique to their culture.
Temple of Um Ubayda
Dedicated to ancient god Amun, this was originally connected to the Temple of the Oracle by a causeway and was used during oracle rituals. Just as it was over two thousand years ago it stands in the middle of tree groves and a short distance from the rock of Aghurmi. Early drawings have revealed that the structure was built during the 30th dynasty yet only one wall stands today among these ruins, though near it is a number of huge stone blocks. All of these blocks seem to be inscribed, and some parts color still prevail.
Taghaghien Touristic Island
It’s a small and relaxed place that basically consists of a few hotels, some restaurants, and a lot of people relaxing as they sip on a cold glass of beer. It offers many shaded tables and chairs; paddleboat rentals and sweet sunset vistas that make it the ideal location for a day trip or picnic.
Dakrur Mountain
This mountain represents a window to one of the most fabulous panoramic views of Siwa. It is situated about 40 km from town. It is a fair climb, but can probably be vertiginous for some.
It encloses two cemeteries that date back to the ancient Egyptian times: El Mawta Mountain or the Mountain of the Dead with its six necropolises of attractive colorful paintings, and Qresht Area eastward Siwa with some remains dating back to the Greek and Roman Period.
Nowadays, the area of El Dakrur Mountain is renowned as a place for therapeutic tourism since it provides a full range of facilities for curing illnesses including rheumatism by covering the body of the person in hot sand for a certain period. El Dakrur Mountain area receives a large number of visitors during the annual celebration after the harvest season that remains for three days.
El-Gârah
Garet Om El-Saghir is one of the smallest villages in Egypt accessible through the halfway point between Matruh and Siwa. It boasts the oldest cotton tree in Africa predating Mohamed Aly’s modern introduction of cotton to Egypt by hundreds of years.
Petrified Forest
This protectorate is adorned by stones with pieces of petrified wood and pebbles of different earthy tones, granting you the opportunity to witness the effect of time on beautiful tree formations.
Bahey El Dine
A small village located 20 km away from Siwa beyond the village of Maraky. It is predominantly inhabited by Arab tribes of non-Berber origin and overlooks the beautiful highly salty Lake Bahey El Dine. It is considered as another wonderful picnic and relaxation area.